With the right wake windows, babies can sleep better and longer. But, what wake windows should you use for your 4 month old? Find out in this article based on my 15+ years as a baby sleep consultant!
In this article:
- 4 Month Old Wake Window: Morning
- Second Wake Window
- Late Afternoon Wake Window
- 4 Month Old Wake Window Before Bedtime
- How Many Naps for a 4 Month Old?
4 Month Old Wake Window: Morning
The first wake window in the morning for your 4 month old should be less than 1-2 hours. Although you might think it would be the opposite, most babies have one of their shortest awake times first thing in the morning. They get sleepy quickly and sometimes stay awake longer later in the day.
One other thing to consider is we typically want them to already be asleep at the end of their wake window, so be sure to start their nap routine at least 10 minutes before!
Second Wake Window
The second wake window of the day at this age is often 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It might be 15-30 minutes longer than the first awake period but usually not much longer than that. Babies this age are learning very quickly and get overstimulated easily. This is especially true if your baby is very alert and perceptive.
Afternoon Wake Windows
4 month olds typically have four naps a day so they will often have another wake window in the afternoon about 1 1/2 to 2 hours long. When my son was a baby, his wake windows were 1 1/2 hours throughout the day. He became overtired easily and quite fussy, so it simply was NOT fun to keep him up longer than comfortable. Your baby may be happier but it doesn’t mean they don’t need to take a nap, so be sure to watch for sleepy cues including yawning and staring off into space. If your baby is rubbing their eyes, it’s already too late!
4 Month Old Wake Window Before Bedtime
The late afternoon/last wake window before bedtime is often as short as the first. Although it might seem like your baby would be rested after already taking three naps, the opposite is often true. They’ve now been awake on and off for 12+ hours, usually. So, keep the last wake window a short 1 to 1 1/2 hours for optimum nighttime sleep. Keep in mind that if your baby has already hit the 4-month sleep regression, he/she may be extra sensitive to staying awake too long.
How Many Naps for a 4 Month Old?
Let’s talk about how many naps your 4 month old baby should take. As you can see from this article, most babies take four naps a day. However, some babies take a long morning or afternoon nap, making it hard to fit four naps in. If that’s the case, it’s okay for your baby to take three naps a day. However, be sure they aren’t awake longer than two hours before bedtime. Usually, that’s a recipe for more night-waking and/or early morning waking!
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